Electric-circuit closer and breaker.



PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

T. H. MoQUCWN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER AND BREAKER.

N0 MODEL.

I/VI T125525;

I I i LlL;

Thomas H NU Qucown/ Patented December 1, 1903.

PATENT QEEIcE.

TIIOMAS II. MOQUOVVN, OF BIGGSVILIJE, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRlC OiRGUlT CLOSER AND BREAKER.

QEEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,870, dated December1, 1903.

Original application filed September 26. 1902, Serial No. 124,910.Divided and this application filed January 2, 1903. Serial No. 137,445.(No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. MoQUowN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Biggsville, in the county of Henderson and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric-Circuit Closers and Breakers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to electriccircuit clo ers and breakers; and itsobject is to provide an electric-circuit closer and breaker simple andeconomical in construction and adapted to instantaneously close andbreak the circuit, so that the circuit will be closed for only aninstant.

My object is attained by and my invention consists in a mechanismcomprising a machine-movable or hand-movable part by whose motion theelectric contact-points are connected and then separated, together withmeans, preferablya spring, forindependently moving and normallyaccelerating said movable part at a point in its travel when it has justcaused or is about causing said contactpoints to connect, by theoperation of which means the contact of said points is made for only aninstant and cannot be continuous, as might otherwise be in case themachinery driving the movable partremained on a deadcenter.

My invention consists also in the novel mechanisms and combinations ofparts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims,which mechanisms and combinations form a practical embodiment of myinvention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a front view of my improvedcircuit closer and breaker. Fig. 2 is avertical section of Fig. 1 online 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow shown at saidline 2 2. Fig. 3 is a front view of a simpler form. of my improvedcircuit closer and breaker, and 4: is a vertical section of Fig. 3 online at 4.- of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow shown atsaid line 4 4.

A projectingpart or pin 1,carried bya crank, or, as shown in thedrawings, by a wheel 2, which is revolved on a stud or spindle S by amoving part of the machinery to which my circuit closer and breaker isapplied, is adapted to abutagainstihe crank-like arm 4: (shown in Figs.1 and 2) loosely rotating on said stud or spindle, and thus rotate it.This cranklike arm 4 has a pin 5, adapted to move by the revolution ofthe crank-like arm between two abntments on a plate 6, sector-shaped, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 loosely rotating on said stud or spindle, and torotate it by engaging with one of said abutments. These abutments are inthe construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the ends of the slot-opening 7in the plate 6, through which opening the pin 5 extends. This plate 6has on its periphery a slight elevation or rib 8, on which in therevolution of the plate 6 presses a suitable spring or lever-arm 9,whichmay be furnished, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a frictionroller 10.The elevation 8 in the revolution of the plate 6 raises the lever-arm orspring 9 until it makes electric contact with the contact-spring 11 inFigs. 1 and 2, whereby the circuit is closed. Instantly the circuit isclosed it is broken by the action of the spring 12, attached to the pin5 in Figs. 1 and 2 and pressing it toward the fixed point 13 of saidspring, as more fully explained hereinafter. The crank or wheel 2 inFigs. 1 and 2 may revolve in either direction and the operation will bethe same.

A simpler form of my invention, adapted to the revolution of the crankor wheel 2 in but one direction, is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thecrank-like arm '5 being omitted, the plate 15 rotatable on the spindle 3and having no slot, and the spring 12 being attached to the pin 14 onthe plate 15, as will be readily understood by referring to Figs. 3 and4..

It is obvious that in any embodiment of my invention the contact pointsand electrical connections may be arranged in various ways. Forinstance, the connections may be with the lever or spring 9 and thecontact-spring 11, they forming contact-points as shown in Figs. 1 and2, or the connections may be with the plate 15 and the contact-spring 9,they forming contact-points as shown in Figs. 3 and 1, suitableinsulation being provided in any case.

It will be understood that whether the rotation of the plate (5 or theplate 15 is fast or slow the electric connection is always broken.

instantly it is closed, because as soon as the plate 6 or the plate 15is rotated far enough for the pin 5 in Figs. 1 and 2 or the pin 14 inFigs. 3 and 4 to pass its dead-centerthat is, to pass a line producedupward from the fixed point 13 of the spring 12 through the center ofthe spindle 3-the spring 12 instantly acts on the plate 6 or the plate15, accelerating its motion and rotating it forward, so that theprojection 8 is by the action of the spring forced into contact with theleverarm or spring 9 and instantly out of contact therewith, whereby thecircuit is by the force of the spring 12 broken instantly it is closed.

The drawings illustrate my circuit closer and breaker as adapted to beoperated by machinery, as by the propelling mechanism of a vessel,locomotive, &c., in connection with which myinvention may be used and towhich use it is especially adapted; but it is evident that my circuitcloser and breaker may be operated by hand or otherwise, as desired.

The wheel 2 being rotated, the operation of my circuit closer andbreaker is manifest.

This is a divisional application divided from my application, Serial No.12%,910, filed in the United States Patent Office September 26, 1902.

It is obvious that my invention may be embodied in modified and varyingmechanisms, and I do not limit myself to the hereinbeforedescribedmechanism as the only embodiment thereof.

I claim- 1. In an electric-circuit closer and breaker, electriccontact-points, a driving part continuously rotatable on an axis, asecond part to connect and separate by its motion the contact-points andcontinuouslyrotatable loosely on the same axis, a striker on the firstpart adapted to engage the second part and rotate it with the rotationof the first part, and independent means for accelerating the rotationof the second part at a point in its circuit where it causes thecontact-points to connect and separate.

2. In an electric-circuit closer and breaker, electric contact-points, adriving part continuously rotatable on an axis, a second part to connectand separate by its motion the contact-points and continuously rotatableloosely on the same axis, a striker on the first part adapted to engagethe second part and rotate I it with the rotation of the first part, anda spring for accelerating the rotation of the second part at a point inits circuit where it causes the contact-points to connect and separate.

3. In an electric-circuit closer and breaker, electric contact-points, adriving part rotatable on an axis in either direction, a second partloosely rotatable in either direction on the same axis, a striker on thefirst part adapted to engage the second part and rotate it with therotation of the first part, a third part to connect and separate thecontactpoints and loosely rotatable in either direction on the sameaxis, two abutments on the third part between which is adapted to move astriker on the second part, said striker on the second part adapted tomove between said abutments and by engaging with either to rotate thethird part with the rotation of the second part, and independent meansfor accelerating the rotation of the third part at a point in itscircuit where it causes the contact-points to connect and separate.

t. In an electric-circuit closer and breaker, electric contact-points, adriving part rotatable on an axis in either direction, a second partloosely rotatable in either direction on the same axis, a strikcron thefirst partadapted to engage the second part and rotate it with therotation of the first part, a third part to connect and separate thecontact-points and loosely rotatable in either direction on the sameaxis,two abutments on the third part between which is adapted to move astriker on the second part, said striker on the second part adapted tomove between said abutments and by engaging with either to rotate thethird part with the rotation of the second part,

THOMAS H. MCQUOlNN.

lVitnesses:

ED KELLY, W. D. Hnnnnnson.

